Self-developing camera with indexing mechanism



Dec. 6, 1966 R. R. WAREHAM 3,289,558

SELF-DEVELOPING CAMERA WITH INDEXING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 5, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR W fl Z/WZM BY '6 I Awwi Z M ATTORNEYS Dec. 6, 1966 R. R. WAREHAM 3,289,558

SELF-DEVELOPING CAMERA WITH INDEXING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 5, 1964 5 Sheets-$heet 2 use H4 44 56 l 86 104 30 I28 2o i I34 O A Z/X/ 1 FIG. 2

INVENTOR.

BY 62 2 am ATTORNEYS Dec. 6, 1966 R. R. WAREHAM SELF-DEVELOPING CAMERA WITH INDEXING MECHANISM I 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 5, 1964 I NVEN TOR. N

ATTORNEYS Dec. 6, 1966 R. R. WAREHAM 3,289,558

SELF-DEVELOPING CAMERA WITH INDEXING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 5, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 no w q- 2 E I 55 co a cu 2 m g t N t W INVENTOR.

Wig/041mm BY I g Jim 4 M ATTORNEYS Dec. 6, 1966 R. R. WAREHAM 3,289,553

SELF-DEVELOPING CAMERA WITH INDEXING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 5, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 l NVEN TOR.

2 BY M Z 8 M ATTOR NEYS United States Patent of Delaware Filed Nov. 5, 1%4, Ser. No. 409,069 12 Claims. (Cl. 95-13) This invention relates to cameras for exposing successive areas of a photosensitive sheet and processing the exposed areas by superposing them with areas of a second sheet and distributing a liquid processing composition between the sheets to form a sandwich which is withdrawn, as it is formed, directly from vthe camera; and r ore particularly, to novel and improved indexing mechanisms for controlling the movement of the sheets through and from the camera.

In the copending US. patent application of Vaito K. El-o'ranta, Serial No. 409,248, filed on an even date 'herewith, there is shown and described .a camera of the selfdeveloping type including a two section housing for holding and enclosing a roll film assembly comprising an elongated photosensitive image-reco ding sheet coupled at its leading end with a second or imagereceiving sheet and a plurality of rupturable containers of processing liquid mounted on the second sheet; means for locating for exposure and exposing successive areas of the photosensitive sheet; a pair of juxtaposed pressure-applying members for superposing each exposed area of the image-recording sheet with an area of the second sheet and distributing the processing liquid from one of the containers between the areas of the sheets to form a sandwich; an opening adjaee-nt the pressure-applying members through which the sandwich is withdrawn directly from between the pressureapplying members; and means for preventing admission of light into the camera through the sheet withdrawal opening, severing successive portions of the sheets withdrawn from the camera through the opening and controlling movement of the sheets through and from the camera. The sheet-severing means cooperatie with sheet engagement means for controlling movement of the sheets through the camera and are so constructed and arranged as to be operated manually as a necessary part of the process of manual withdrawal of the sheets.

An object of the invention is to provide in a selfdeveloping camera of the type described, a novel and im proved sheet-severing and indexing mechanism including sheet-engaging means movable by and in engagement with a sheet, sheet-severing means and means and means coupling the sheet-engaging and sheet-severing means to control movement of the sheet through the camera; and to provide an indexing mechanism as described in which said means coupling said sheet-engaging and sheet-severing means include a stop member movable into and from the path of movement of a portion of the sheet-engaging means to prevent motion of the engaging means in engagement with a sheet, and support means for preventing movement of said stop member in response to engagement with the sheet-engaging means.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sheetsevering and indexing mechanism as described which is reliable in its operation and is characterized by a simple and inexpensive construction.

Other objects of the invention will and will in part appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the apparatus possessing the construction, combinaiton of elements and arrangement of parts which are exemplified in the following detailed disclosure, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

in part be obvious 3,289,558 Patented Dec. 6, 1966 For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a rear perspective view of a camera embody-ing the invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view of the camera of FIGURE 1, the section being taken substantially along the line 2 -2 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view of the camera, the section being taken substantially along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2; I

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 illustrating the operation of the camera; and

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing components of the camera.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 1 through 3 of the drawings wherein there is shown a camera 10 of the type described in the aforementioned application Serial No. 409,248, embodying the present invention. Camera .10 comprises a housing including a forward section 12 and a rear section 14 pivotally connected to one another for movement between the closed or operative position, shown in FIGURE 1, and in open position to permit loading of a film assemblage into the housing. Forward housing section 12 includes a main body portion comprising an upper wall 1-6, an end wall 18, a relatively short rear wall 20, and a lower wall, a forward wall and a wall at its opposite end, which do not show in the drawings. Extending from the main portion of the forward housing section is an extension section 22 on which is mounted a conventional lens and shutter assembly 24. A view finder 26 is mounted on upper wall 16.

Rear housing section 14 includes a rear wall having a first panel 28 and a rearwardly displaced second panel 30, an upper wall 32, and a lower and end walls which do not appear in the drawings. The upper and lower walls of the rear housing section overlap, respectively, portions of the upper and lower walls of the forward housing section, and the rear housing section is mounted on the forward housing section for pivotal movement about studs 34 extending from the upper and lower walls of the forward housing section and engaged in openings in the upper and lower walls of the rear housing section. The forward and rear sections of the camera housing are designed to be fabricated by mass production methods from inexpensive materials, for example, molded organic plastics.

The camera housing includes means for holding a supply of an elongated photosensitive image-recording sheet 36, supporting successive areas of the image-recording sheet in position for exposure, holding a coil of a second or image-receiving sheet 38 and guiding expose-d areas of the image-recording sheet into superposition with areas of the image-receiving sheet.

The mechanism of the camera includes a unitary device for superposing areas of the two sheets and distributing a processing liquid between the superposed areas to form a sandwich; arresting movement of the sheets through the camera; and retaining the forward and rear housing sections in closed or operative position, as shown in FIG- URE 1. This unitary device is shown in detail in FIG. 5, and comprises a first frame 40 mounted on the inside of second panel 30 of the rear wall of the rear housing section and a second frame 42 mounted within the forward housing section adjacent end wall 18 thereof. The first and second frames are preferably formed of sheet metal and function to support the processing, sheet arresting and retaining (latch) means of the camera. These last-mentioned means include components located on opposite sides of the sheets and acting in combination and in opposition to one another upon the sheets located between them and aasases the housing sections to which they are secured. To facilitate loading and threading of the sheets into the apparatus, component of the processing and arresting mechanisms which act upon the sheets in opposition to one another are mounted on different sections of the camera housing and are required to be located with respect to one another with greater accuracy than is obtainable in a two-section camera housing formed of organic plastic materials by molding processes; and the forces exerted by and upon the components of these mechanisms are substantially greater than an inexpensive molded plastic housing is able to withstand. It is for these reason that the processing, arresting and latch means are combined in a unitary device including two sections mounted on frames 40 and 42 which are separable by pivoting housing sec tions 12 and 14 with respect to one another, and which may be joined to one another to operatively locate the various components with the requisite accuracy and in a unitary device which prevents undue stresses from being applied to the camera housing.

Frame 46 includes a base 44, upstanding side members 46 and an upstanding transverse member 48 extending between and connecting side members 46; and is mounted with base 44 against the rear wall of the rear housing section with side members 46 located adjacent the upper and lower walls of the rear housing sections. The processing mechanism of the camera, that is, the means for superposing the sheets and distributing the processing liquid therebetween, comprises a pair of juxtaposed pressure-applying rolls 51) and 52 mounted, respectively, on first and second frames 40 and 42 and located in juxtaposition, as shown in FIG. 2, when the housing sections are in closed position. The means for mounting roll 50 on first frame 40 and biasing the roll toward roll 52 include a carrier 54, in turn mounted on frame 40, and including an elongated base 56 with upstanding end members 58 at its ends, a transverse member 60 upstanding from one longitudinal edge of base 56 and brackets 62 extending from the ends of transverse member 60 in opposite directions from end members 58 and in planes substantially parallel therewith. Second frame member 42 is generally U-shaped and includes a transverse member 64 located adjacent end wall 18 of the forward housing section and a pair of side members 66 located adjacent the upper and lower walls of the forward housing section. Roll 52 includes a generally cylindrical medial portion 68 and shafts 70' extending from its ends journaled in holes 71 in side members 66.

Roll 50 includes a generally cylindrical medial portion 72 cooperating with medial portion 68 of roll 52 for engaging and applying compressive pressure to the medial portions of the sheets and shafts 74 at its ends on which the roll is mounted for rotation on carrier 54 and frame 40. Shafts 74 are journaled in slots 76 in brackets 62, the slots being open at their forward ends to permit assembly of the mechanism; and in L-shaped slots 78 in side members 46 of frame 40. L-shaped slots 78 are open at their forward ends and extend rearwardly and then at right angles toward the end of the camera housing and roll 52, thereby providing for limited movement of roll 50 toward and away from roll 52 with the axes of the rolls lying in substantially the same plane. Carrier 54 is engaged between side members 46 of frame 40 for sliding movement together with roll 50 toward and away from roll 52 and is biased by springs 80 engaged between transverse member 48 of frame 40 and transverse member 64 of frame 42 around studs 82 on the transverse members. Engagement of shafts 74 in L-shaped slots 78, specifically the portions of the slots extending parallel with the direction of movement of carrier 54 with respect to frame 40, is effective to retain frame 40, carrier 54, roll 50 and springs 80 together as a unitary assembly which is mounted on the rear housing section adjacent second panel 30 thereof.

Side members 66 of frame 42 extend rearwardly in the 4 closed position of the camera housing sections outside of side members 46 of frame 40 and include L-shaped slots 84 opening rearwardly in alignment with L-shaped slots 78 and having end portions overlying the end portions of slots 78 in the closed position of the camera housing sections. L-shaped slots 84 and side members 66 comprise components of a latching mechanism for releasably retaining the housing sections in closed position and including a shaft 86 extending from the outside of the camera housing, engaged for rotation in a hole 88 in base 44 of frame 49 and having mounted on its inner end a cam 90 engaged for rotation in an elongated hole 92 in base 56 of carrier 54. A manually engageable lever 94 is attached to the outer end of shaft 86 for rotating the cam to move carrier 54 relative to frame 40 and roll 52 against the bias of springs 80. In this manner, shafts 74 of roll 59 may be moved toward and away from roll 52 within the confines of the end portions of L-shaped slots 78 of frame 40. In the open or inoperative position of the camera, shaft 86 and cam 90 are rotated so that roll 50 and carrier 54 are displaced against the bias of springs toward transverse member 48 of frame 40. In this position of roll 50, shafts 74 are aligned with the open ends of L-shaped slots 84 in side members 66 of frame 42 on the forward housing section and become engaged in -shaped slots 84 when the rear housing section is pivoted with respect to the forward housing section into closed position. Shaft 86 and cam 90 are then rotated to allow carrier 54 and roll 50 to move under the bias of springs 80 toward roll 52 so that shafts 74 become engaged Within the dead end portions of L-shaped slots 84, effectively retaining the camera housing sections in closed position.

Means are provided for properly locating frame 40 and its associated carrier 54 and roll 50 mounted thereon with respect to frame 42 and roll 52 and for absorbing the forces exerted on frames 40 and 42 by way of rolls 50 and 52, so that the forces exerted by and upon the rolls are not transferred to the camera housing. These means include a pair of studs 96 projecting outwardly from side members 46 for engagement in U-shaped slots 98 in side members 66 of frame 42 when the housing sections are in closed position. A coil of second sheet 38 is loaded into the camera housing between side members 66 of frame 42 and retained in place by a retaining member 100 mounted for movement with respect to the forward housing section and a guide member 102 mounted on transverse member 64 of frame 42, and cooperating with the retaining member in the closed position of the camera housing sections to define an opening adjacent the bite of the rolls through which sheet 38 is movable into the bite of the rolls. Image-recording sheet 36 is loaded into a chamber provided in the opposite end of the camera housing and is threaded across the rear of the camera housing adjacent the inside of panel 28, forwardly of frame 40 and carrier 54 between the latter and retaining member 100 and around roll 59 into superposition with sheet 38 within the bite of the rolls. The film assemblage, of which sheets 36 and 38 are components, also includes a plurality of rupturable containers (not shown) mounted on sheet 38 and a leader ecured to and joining the leading ends of the imagerecording and second sheets and adapted to be threaded between the pressure-applying rolls when the camera is loaded.

Rear wall 20 of forward housing section 12 and panel 30 of rear housing section 14 include juxtaposed portions defining an opening aligned with the bite of rolls 50 and 52 through which the sandwich comprising sheets 36 and 38 is withdrawn directly from between the pressure-applying rolls. In accordance with the invention, the forward and rear camera housing sections are provided with means for preventing the admission of light through this opening into the interior of the camera housing and, in the form shown in FIGS. 1 through 3, these means comprise a rearwardly projecting lip 104 on panel 30 located at the end of the panel and extending from side-to-side thereof and having a length slightly in excess of the width of the sheets; and a second lip 106 extending rearwardly adjacent hp 164 from rear wall 20 of the forward housing section. Lips 104 and 166 include, respectively, end members 108 and 116 which cooperate with the lips and one another to define a narrow passage 112 extending outwardly from the camera housing through which sheets 36 and 38 can be withdrawn. Passage 112, defined by lips 104 and 106 and end members 108 and 110, is only slightly wider than the maximum thickness of the materials required to be withdrawn from the camera and is inclined and oriented so that light passing through passage 112 impinges upon and is blocked by roll 52. Sheets 36 and 38 help to prevent the admission of light through passage 112 and, being opaque to actinic light, help to prevent reflection of the light from roll 52 to other parts of the interior of the camera at which it is possible to expose imagerecording sheet 36. As an added precaution against exposure of the image-recording sheet to light admitted through passage 112, a cover member 114 is provided mounted on end members 108 for pivotal movement between a closed position, shown in FIG. 2, in which the cover member extends across and closes passage 112, and an open position, shown in FIGURE 1, to one side of the passage to permit withdrawal movement of sheet materials through the passage.

An area of image-recording sheet 36, following exposure, is moved into superposition with an area of second sheet 38 between rolls 50 and 52 through passage 112 and from the camera. During this movement, a processing liquid containedin a rupturable container mounted on sheet 38 is distributed between the exposed area of the image-recording sheet and the superposed area of the second sheet, and an unexposed area of the image-recording sheet is moved into position for exposure. Accordingly, the camera includes means for arresting the movement of the sheets when the exposed and processed area of the image-recording sheet has been advanced through passage 112 from the camera and the next succeeding unexposed area of the image-recording sheet is in position for exposure. This arresting or indexing means comprises a sheet-engaging member in the form of a disc 116 having a pair of radial projections 118 mounted coaxially with roll '52 on one of shafts 70 at the end of medial portion 68 of the roll. Disc 116 is rotatable with respect to roll 52 and is biased into frictional engagement with the end of medial portion 68 by a coil spring 120 engaged around shaft 70 between disc 116 and side member 66 of frame 4-2. A cup 122, having an outer diameter approximately equal to the diameter of medial portion 68, is provided around spring 128 to help prevent the admission of light into the camera housing past the end of the medial portion of roll 52. The

medial portion of roll 50 is provided near one end thereof with a peripheral groove 124 for accommodating radial projections 118 to allow for rotation of both rolls and disc 116, and the latter is biased into frictional engagement with the end of the medial portion of roll 52.

Image-receiving sheet 38 is provided along one edge with a succession of openings 126, each opening being associated with an area of the image-receiving sheet adapted to be superposed with an exposed area of the image-recording sheet during processing thereof. Openings 126, in the image-receiving sheet, are aligned with disc 116 during movement of the sheets between the rolls and frictional coupling between roll 52 and the disc is such that one of projections 118 rides against the outer surface of sheet 38 until an opening 126 becomes aligned with the projection and the projection enters the opening and is engaged by the trailing edge of the opening, which continues to rotate the disc slightly causing the projection to punch a hole in the underlying portion of sheet 36 and enter groove 124 in roll 50. Movement of the sheets is arrested by arresting rotation of disc 116 with a projection 118 engaged in an opening 126 in sheet 38 and the hole punched in sheet 36. Movement of the sheets is recommenced by again permitting disc 116 to rotate as the sheets are withdrawn between the rolls, whereupon disc 116 again rotates (in a clockwise direction viewing FIG. 2), due to frictional coupling with roll 52, until a projection 118 comes to bear against sheet 38 and move ment of the sheets is continued with the projection bearing against sheet 38 until an opening 126 becomes aligned with the projection, the projection enters the opening and is carried into the bite of the rolls, punching a hole in sheet 36 to the position shown in FIG. 2, in which move pilegit of the sheets is arrested by arresting rotation of disc. 1.

In order to permit portions of the sheets located between lips 104 and 106 to be grasped manually for withdrawing the sheets from the camera through passage 112, the lips are formed with generally aligned indentations. These include an indentation 128 in lip 104 and an indentation 130 in lip 166 defined by a reentrant section 132 of lip 106 providing a recess 134. Following withdrawal of a portion of the sandwich comprising an exposed area of the image-recording sheet from the camera through passage 112, movement of the sandwich is arrested and the portion of the sandwich projecting beyond the edges of lips 104 and 1116 is severed from the remainder of the sandwich within. passage 112 along a transverse line corresponding to the edges of the lips. For this purpose, the camera is provided with a cutter bar 136 pivotally mounted at one end (furthest from the indentations) between the lips and extending within passage 112. Cutter bar 136 includes a sharpened and substantially linear edge portion 138 extending across indentations 128 and 130 substantially in alignment with the edge of lip 104. Cutter bar 136 i mounted on a support 140 in the form of a pressed metal member hav ing a base section 142 secured to transverse member 64, a support section 144 shaped to conform generally to end wall 18 and rear wall 20, and a cutting section 146 extending rearwardly within passage 112 closely adjacent lip 166 and terminating in a bent edge portion 148 located opposite the rear edge of lip 104 and extending across the outer end of passage 112 toward lip 104. Edge portion 148 is sharpened and provides means against which the sandwich is drawn to severe the sandwich. Support section 144, cutting section 146 and edge portion 148 are provided with an indentation 150 corresponding to indentations 128 and 130 in the lips. Cutter bar 136 is pivotally mounted on cutting section 146 in face-to-face relation with the cutting section with the rearmost edge of the cutter bar underlying edge portion 148, which provides a stop against which the cutter bar is biased, Edge portion 138- of the cutter bar projects rearwardly through indentations 150 and the sharpened edge of edge portion 138 forms a continuation of the sharpened edge of edge portion 148 so as to present a single continuous sharpened member extending from end to end of passage 112 and at least equal in length to the width of the sandwich.

Means are provided for retaining the cutter bar in the cutting position, shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, as the sandwich is drawn against the cutter bar and edge portion of support 140 to severe the sandwich and, in the form shown, these means comprise a recess 152 in the side of cutter bar 136 facing cutting section 146 of support 140 and a short detent or stud 154 on cutting section 146 which extends into recess 152 and restrains the cutter bar against movement. Stud 154 is relatively short, has a rearwardly inclined cam surface, and can be disengaged from recess 152 in the cutter bar by displacing the cutter bar slightly toward lip 164. This is made possible by the fact that the cutter bar may be bent slightly and the pivot for the cutter bar has some play in it; however, during severance of the sandwich, the cutter bar is, of

course, pressed toward cutting section 1 16 so that stud 15 1 is effectively retained in recess 152. In order to manually grasp a portion of the sandwich located within passage 112 between indentations 123 and 13d, cutter bar 136 must be displaced forwardly or inwardly, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. To facilitate this displacement by pivoting of the cutter bar, a manually engageable button 156 is provided mounted on a lug 158 formed from a portion of the cutter bar. Button 156 is mounted within recess 134 and includes an inclined rear surface which, when engaged by the thumb or one of the fingers of the operator, acts as a cam surface displacing the cutter bar both inwardly and toward lip 104 so that stud 154 is disengaged from recess 152 permitting the inward or forward motion of the button and cutter bar.

In accordance with the invention the cutter bar, which must be depressed inwardly in order to grasp the sandwich to withdraw it from the camera, also functions to control the operation of the indexing mechanism which arrests the movement of the sandwich. Movement of the sandwich is arrested by arresting rotation of disc 116 and this is accomplished by a resilient stop member in the form of a generally J-shaped spring 160 having a relatively short arm 162 at which the spring is secured to a bracket 164 formed near the end of the cutter bar at which the cutter bar is pivotally mounted; a short connecting arm 166 extending radially with respect to the pivotal axis of the cutter bar and an elongated engagement arm 168 extending in a direction generally parallel with the cutter bar and the pivotal axis of disc 116 toward the disc and including an end portion intersecting the circular path of movement of radial projections 118. Portions of transverse member 64 of second frame 42 are formed into a pair of U-shaped support members 170 located adjacent opposite sides of the circular path of movement of projections 118 and each having a pair of arms 172 disposed on opposite sides of the free end portion of engagement arm 168. Arms 172 are spaced apart from one another to permit limited movement of the end portion of engagement arm 168 in a direction generally tangent to the direction of rotation of radial projections 118, and len thwise movement of the end portion of engagement arm 168 in a direction generally parallel with the axis of rotation of disc 116 into and from the path of rotation of radial projections 118-. In FIG. 3, the cutter bar is shown in its operative or cutting position and arm 168 of spring 160 is shown in position to engage one of projections 11S and arrest the rotation of disc 116 in engagement with the sheets and arms 172 function to support engagement arm 168 against motion when engaged with a projection 113. Arms 162 and 168 of spring 160 are biased apart from one another in opposite directions so that spring 161) coacts with one of support members 170 to bias the cutter bar into the operative position, shown in FIG. 3.

To resume advancement of the sandwich, button 156 and cutter bar 136, to which it is attached, are depressed forwardly to permit the operator to grasp the sandwich, and this rotation of the cutter bar in a counterclockwise direction to the position shown in FIG. 4, pivots connecting arm 166, displacing engagement arm 163 lengthwise (to the right), to the position shown in FIG. 4, in which the free end of engagement arm 168 is withdrawn from the path of movement of projections 118. Then, as the sandwich is withdrawn, cutter bar 136 and button 156 are permitted to return under the bias of spring 160 to their original position, returning engagement arm 168 into its arresting position in the path of projections 118. During the initial portion of movement of the sandwich, disc 116 is, of course, rotated, and this rotation is sufficient to advance the projection 118, engaged by engagement arm 168, to the extent that when the en gagement arm is returned to its arresting position it will be located behind the projection in position to engage the other projection as disc 116 is rotated further. As

an added safety factor to protect against the possibility that the cutter bar may be depressed and released prior to movement of the sheets so that arm 168 may have returned to its original position in front of projection 118, arm 168 of spring is so formed and positioned with respect to arms 172 as to be deformed slightly when the cutter bar is depressed in such a way that the free end of arm 163 is displaced relative to the projections in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the projections. By virtue of this construction and arrangement, when the cutter bar is released the free end of arm 168 returns to its original position along a path which will intersect the radial projection with which it was previously engaged and come to rest against the radial projection with the cutter bar remaining par tially depressed. In this position, arm 168 is unable to prevent rotation of the disc and moves into position to prevent rotation of the disc only after the projection 118 has been advanced from engagement with the arm,

The invention described herein provides a camera structure and operating mechanism for severing successive portions of the sheet materials as they are withdrawn from an opening in the camera; and an indexing mechanism for arresting movement of sheet materials at predetermined positions and automatically releasing the sheet material for movement when the sheets are grasped and withdrawn from the camera. This release operation is termed automatic because the construction of the camera and operating mechanism is such that the sheets cannot be grasped and withdrawn without releasing the sheets for movement, that is, releasing the sheet engagement disc for rotation; and in this way tearing of the sheets is prevented because the operator does not have to remember to release the arresting mechanism. The construction of the sheet severing and indexing mechanisms are both simple and hence inexpensive, and reliable in their operation.

Since certain changes may be made in the above apparatus without departing from the scope of the invention herein involved, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. In photographic apparatus including an engagement member mounted for rotation, by and in response to movement of a photographic sheet relative to said member from said apparatus, about an axis disposed transversely of the direction of movement of said sheet, said engagement member including a plurality of radial projections for engaging successive engageable portions of said sheet to arrest movement of said sheet, and a manually engageable control member adapted to be moved from a rest position to a release position prior to commencement of movement of said sheet and from said release position to said rest position during initial movement of said sheet, the combination therewith of means for controlling the rotation of said engagement member comprising:

an elongated stop member mounted on said control member and including a free end section extending in the same general direction as said axis of rotation of said engagement member into the circular path of rotation of said projections; and

support means located in fixed position adjacent said path of rotation on opposite sides of said end section and positioned to permit movement of said end section lengthwise into and from said path of rotation and limit motion of said end section in directions tangential to said path of rotation;

said stop member being mounted on said control member for lengthwise movement of said end section from said path during and in response to movement of said sheet-severing member from said rest position to said release position and into said path during and in response to movement of said control member from said release to said rest position;

said free end section of said stop member being biased by said support means, when said control member is in said release position, in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of said projections in response to movement of said sheet in engagement therewith. 2. The photographic apparatus of claim 1 in which said control member is mounted at one end for pivotal movement between said rest and release positions, said stop member is mounted on said control member at said one end and includes a first section extending radially with respect to the pivotal axis of said control member and an elongated section including said end section extending tangentially from the other end of said first section.

3. The photographic apparatus of claim 1 including means for biasing said control member into said rest position.

4. The photographic apparatus of claim 3 in which said means for biasing said control member into said rest position comprise said stop member which is resilient and said support means.

5. Photographic apparatus as defined in claim 1 comprising a housing having lips between which successive portions of said sheet are withdrawn, said control member being mounted between said lips and in said rest position cooperating with one of said lips to provide a continuous cutting edge against which said successive portions of said sheet are drawn for severing said sheet along transverse lines.

6. In photographic apparatus including a housing having lips defining an opening through which successive sections of a photographic sheet are withdrawn, engagement means within said housing for engaging successive portions of said sheet and being movable by and in response to withdrawal movement of said sheet, a cutting member mounted between said lips for movement in the direction of movement of said sheet between said lips between a release position and a cutting position in which said cutting member cooperates with said lips to provide an edge against which sections of said sheet are withdrawn to sever said sections along transverse lines, in combination, control means coupled with said cutting means and coacting with said engagement means to control withdrawal movement of said sheet, said control means comprising:

support means located in fixed position adjacent the path of movement of a portion of said engagement means; and

a stop member mounted on said cutting member for movement between a stop position, when said cutting member is in said cutting position, at which a section of said stop member extends into said path of movement of a portion of said engagement means between the latter and said support means and is supported against movement by said support means preventing movement of said engagement means and said sheet engaged therewith, and a release position, when said cutting member is in said release position thereof, at which said portion of said stop member is supported by said support member to one side of said path of movement.

7. The photographic apparatus of claim 6 in which said stop member is resilient and coacts with said support means to bias said cutting member into said cutting position.

8. The photographic apparatus of claim 6 in which said stop member is in the form of an elongated cantilever spring having a free end section supported in said stop position thereof by said support means across said path of movement in front of said portion of said engagement means and in said release position of said stop member to one side of said path of movement of said portion.

9. The photographic apparatus of claim 8 in which said end section of said stop member is supported for movement from said stop to said release position thereof in a direction generally perpendicular to the direction of movement of said portion, and said cutting member, support means and stop member are so constructed and arranged with respect to one another as to displace said end section in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of said portion during movement of said stop member into said release position.

10. The photographic apparatus of claim 6 in which said lips include aligned indentations permitting manual engagement of sections of said sheets disposed between said lips, said cutting member includes a section extending across said indentations and is mounted for pivotal movement about an end section remote from said indentations and said engagement means, said stop member comprises a generally J-shaped cantilever spring having a relatively short arm secured to said cutting member near said end thereof and a relatively long arm extending toward said portion of said engagement means into engagement with said support means into said path of movement of said portion, the construction and ar rangement of said cutting member, said spring and said support means being such that said spring and support means coact with one another during pivotal movement of said section of said cutting member inwardly to displace the free end of said long arm from said stop position thereof out of said path of movement and in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of said portion of said engagement means.

11. The photographic apparatus of claim 10 in which said support means comprise pairs of spaced support members located adjacent opposite sides of said path of movement of said portion with said support members disposed adjacent opposite sides of said free end section of said spring for restraining the latter against movement in the direction of movement of said portion while permitting limited movement of said free end section in the opposite direction and movement of said free end section to one side of said path in a direction generally perpendicular to said direction of movement of said portion.

12. The photographic apparatus of claim 6 in which said stop member is in the form of a cantilever spring having a free end section extending into said path of movement of said engagement means; said engagement means include two pairs of spaced support members located adjacent opposite sides of said path of movement of said end portion with the support members of each of said pairs located on opposite sides of said end section and spaced from one another sufliciently to permit limited movement of said end section in a direction generally parallel with the direction of movement of said portion; and said support members and said spring cooperate to bias said free end section in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of said portion of said engagement means during movement thereof in engagement with said sheet.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,016,175 1/1962 Wareham 226-58 JOHN M. HORAN, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS INCLUDING AN ENGAGEMENT MEMBER MOUNTED FOR ROTATION, BY AND IN RESPONSE TO MOVEMENT OF A PHOTOGRAPHIC SHEET RELATIVE TO SAID MEMBER FROM SAID APPARATUS, ABOUT AN AXIS DISPOSED TRANSVERSELY OF THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF SAID SHEET, SAID ENGAGEMENT MEMBER INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF RADIAL PROJECTIONS FOR ENGAGING SUCCESSIVE ENGAGEABLE PORTIONS OF SAID SHEET TO ARREST MOVEMENT OF SAID SHEET, AND A MANUALLY ENGAGEABLE CONTROL MEMBER ADAPTED TO BE MOVED FROM A REST POSITION TO A RELEASE POSITION PRIOR TO COMMENCEMENT OF MOVEMENT OF SAID SHEET AND FROM SAID RELEASE POSITION TO SAID REST POSITION DURING INITIAL MOVEMENT OF SAID SHEET, THE COMBINATION THEREWITH OF MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE ROTATION OF SAID ENGAGEMENT MEMBER COMPRISING: AN ELONGATED STOP MEMBER MOUNTED ON SAID CONTROL MEMBER AND INCLUDING A FREE END SECTION EXTENDING IN THE SAME GENERAL DIRECTION AS SAID AXIS OF ROTATION OF SAID ENGAGMENT MEMBER INTO THE CIRCULAR PATH OF ROTATION OF SAID PROJECTIONS; AND SUPPORT MEANS LOCATED IN FIXED POSITION ADJACENT SAID PATH OF ROTATION ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID END SECTION AND POSITIONED TO PERMIT MOVEMENT OF SAID END SECTION LENGTHWISE INTO AND FROM SAID PATH OF ROTATION AND LIMIT MOTION OF SAID END SECTION IN DIRECTIONS TANGENTIAL TO SAID PATH OF ROTATION; SAID STOP MEMBER BEING MOUNTED ON SAID CONTROL MEMBER FOR LENGTHWISE MOVEMENT OF SAID END SECTION FROM SAID PATH DURING AND IN RESPONSE TO MOVEMENT OF SAID SHEET-SERVING MEMBER FROM SAID REST POSITION TO AND RELEASE POSITION AND INTO SAID PATH DURING AND IN RESPONSE TO MOVEMENT OF SAID CONTROL MEMBER FROM SAID RELEASE TO SAID REST POSITION; SAID FREE END SECTION OF SAID STOP MEMBER BEING BIASED BY SAID SUPPORT MEANS, WHEN SAID CONTROL MEMBER IS IN SAID RELEASE POSITION, IN A DIRECTION OPPOSITE YO THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF SAID PROJECTIONS IN RESPONSE TO MOVEMENT OF SAID SHEET IN ENGAGEMENT THEREWITH. 